63 wins: 3 in eights, 19 in fours, 19 in pairs/doubles, 22 in singles. 126 entries for Tees LDS, 108 in the SBH. Subs increase for the first time in 2 years, full senior sub now £315. Explore Rowing, a BR scheme to promote recreational rowing is making excellent progress. Junior numbers are encouraging at 35 and the club boats a junior eight for the first time. It is 10 years since we moved from Boathouse Lane to this our new home at River Tees Watersports Centre.

Probably the most memorable of the club’s 148 years. Watched on TV by a large assembly of members, not to mention a lucky few present at Dorney including Kate O’Sullivan and Sue Watson who are Olympic Gamesmakers., our own Kat Copeland, coached by Tees Start Coach James Harris, is partnered by Sophie Hosking in the final of theWomen’s Olympic Lightweight Double Sculls and reduces us to cheers and tears as they convincingly win GOLD. Her subsequent reaction of delight and disbelief becomes one of the most TV repeated winning celebrations and is commemorated by the Royal Mail not only on a stamp but also by painting gold a letter box in Ingleby Barwick where she was brought up. There is a significant increase in enquiries about taking up rowing after the Olympics. Our oldest boat, the tub pair Eric Colwell, is sold. (Eric Colwell was Honorary Treasurer of Tees RC for 35 years). This robust Banham built fibre glass craft has seen the introduction of many new members to the sport since 1969 but with the advent of our Learn to Row quads and doubles it was felt that these are a more appropriate means of introduction. Proposals are being worked on to introduce rowing at Teesside High School. We are voted Club of the Year at the Stockton Council awards ceremony. Indoor Rowing successes are scored by Julian Bunn, Charlotte Davies, Ian Ronald and Lawrence Whitely.

We are well represented on the International scene: World Under 23 Silver medals for Jo Wratten and Beth Bryan as members of the GB Women’s Eight. Tina Stiller strokes the GB W4x at the World Cup Regatta at Dorney Lake and at The World Rowing Championships. Anna Fairs is our representative in WJ 2- in The Junior World Championships and also wins WJ18 at Henley Women’s Regatta. Other Tees winners at Henley Women’s include Beth Bryan and Jo Wratten. At the other end of the age spectrum Tony Stocking, Paul Buckworth, Hugh Pelham and Jonny Cooper win Gold in Mas D 4x at The World Masters Championships in Italy, Roger Brown teamed up with fellow GB International Guy Pooley (Leander) to win Mas C 2x at Henley Masters and we win the Masters Victor Ludorum in the NRC Long Distance Sculling Series. Domestic successes include two pennants in the 25k Great Tyne Row, The Victor Ludorum North of England Sprint Regatta at Hollingworth Lake which included a welcome £500 cheque. The Olympic effect continues with so many junior enquiries that we have a waiting list. World Class Start Coach James Harris leaves to take up a new appointment (promotion) with GB International Rowing. Plans are drawn up to extend the boat storage area of the Watersports Centre. We continue to promote community participation in rowing by hosting a Learn to Row Course, launched by our Olympic gold medallist Kat Copeland, on behalf of The Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation whose purpose is to boost the life skills and life chances of the homeless community. In February Kat is voted BBC Sports personality of the year (North) and in May the Duke of Edinburgh presents her with her MBE at Buckingham Palace. Recreational rowing goes from strength to strength and now includes participation, and wins, in the Northern Rowing League for recreational rowers and exchange visits with Durham ARC. Our Adaptive Athletes continue to make progress and Lawrence Whiteley crowns his debut selection for GB Para rowing team by winning Bronze in Italy. We take delivery of a double scull funded by the Stockton Council Legacy Fund which also provides finance in support of High Performance Rowing. At The National Rowing Championships, with the help of Jessica Lyden of Hollingworth Lake, Kristina Stiller, Beth Bryan and Kat Copeland prevent a Leander clean sweep when they win W4x. Gold Medals too for Lawrence Whiteley and Caroline McDonald in their Adaptive events. Janet Wilkinson is British Rowing 2013 Coach of the Year in the Club Development Category. The boathouse is almost full but space for extra boats is somehow arranged in expectation of new deliveries.